Coping with Stress

Genghis Grill gifted us with our very own GG stressball. 

Today's challenge for points is to write a blog about how we are handling the stress of the contest.

I would say that my biggest stress is that the contest takes so much energy and time to keep up with. Between the daily challenges, working out, keeping track of my nutrition, and eating at the restaurant each day, I don't have much left for other things. Not to mention I have a four year old and a three year old. Both are very delightful and full of energy but it takes a lot of work, especially with the health challenges they both face (asthma/allergies and Caleb's speech, sensory, cleft issues). And tacos, not eating tacos at Los Rancheros stresses me out, haha!!!

How do I cope?

1. My faith in God. I listen to books and podcosts on my ipod while I work out. I close my eyes on the elliptical and pray (mostly that Krispy Kreme would be good for me). And I remind myself that God says that my body is a temple, a vessel for His work. How can He adequately use me if I am putting junk in His vessel?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

^"19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

2. My husband. He has been cleaning, hanging out with the kids, cooking, encouraging me all along the way. I honestly don't know how I would manage if he wasn't 100% behind me. He also tries to eat his bowl of ice cream before I get home from working out, but sometimes I catch him! : )

3. Fusion Fitness Center- the staff are cheering me on. Mike McNamera is my trainer at Fusion and he is both cursed and praised by me daily. He is positive and encouraging and he kicks my butt!! Sandra Kerr is my Zumba instructor and she is also positive, fun, and encouraging. Love her and my Zumba class- they let me come even though I look like a duck doing the macarena. I love working out at Fusion and I will be a frequent patron long after this contest is over.

 

4. Weight Watchers- I was there before the contest, I go to my meetings now, and I will keep going after the contest is over. I especially love Denise on Thursdays at 9:30am. Come join me? You'll love Denise- best WW leader I've ever had! Don't just sit and think, I wish I could lose weight too. You can do it!!!

5. My family and friends, including my new GG contest friends and the staff at the GG-Panama City. Every "like", comment, encouraging word helps me. Thanks for loving me at my heaviest and helping me as I get healthy. I truly have the best support system anyone can ask for.

It's way more fun to dwell on the resources I have that help me than on the things that stress me out. So I press on!!

Philippians 4:8 

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.